Instant Pot Apple Butter

Sweet, flavorful, gently caramelized, and flavored with warming spices, this Instant Pot Apple Butter is the taste of Autumn in a jar!

A Deliciously Simple Instant Pot Recipe for Apple Butter

Many recipes for apple butter call for a lengthy low-and-slow cook time – basically like simmering a pot of applesauce. Then you blend and caramelize that sauce, cooking it some more.

In this recipe, the awesomeness of the Instant Pot takes that cooking time and reduces it to just a short while, making it possible to create this delicious, cinnamon-y apple spread in under an hour!

And considering you can freeze it for up to 6 months, I’d say that’s a sweet (get it?) investment.

What’s the Difference Between Applesauce and Apple Butter?

The main difference between applesauce and apple butter is caramelization, which is when an ingredient is cooked to bring out its natural sugars, which then brown and sweeten during the cooking process. Like caramel!

So apple butter begins as cooked-down apples which are pureed, and then cooked further to a deep caramel color and sweetness. Also, applesauce may or may not be spiced, but apple butter is almost always flavored with cinnamon and other warm spices.

Should You Leave the Apple Peel On?

You can definitely leave the peel on! This makes preparing the fresh apples very easy. You can leave the peels on if the apples are unwaxed; if using conventional waxed apples, peel them or trying a wax-removal method like this one. Either way, as with all produce, wash the apples well before using!

Recipe Ingredients

• Apples: You’ll need about 5 pounds of sweet apples cored and cut into wedges. I like to use Granny Smith, but sweet apples such as Pink Lady, Fuji, Golden Delicious, are also great!
• Lemon Juice: This adds a needed tangy note to the recipe.
• Brown Sugar: When measuring, be sure to pack the brown sugar down into the measuring cup for best results.
• Granulated Sugar: You may substitute raw or natural sugar for some or all of the granulated AND brown sugar in this recipe.
• Apple Cider: This adds the liquid necessary for pressure cooking in the Instant Pot (and it’s delicious).
• Cinnamon, Allspice, and Nutmeg
• Vanilla: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.

How to Make Instant Pot Apple Butter

1. Pressure Cook the Apples: Place the prepared apples into the Instant Pot, and stir in the lemon juice, sugars, cider, spices, and vanilla. Pressure cook on HIGH for 8 minutes. When cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes.
2. Blend the Cooked Apples: Once the pressure has been released, remove the lid and use an immersion blender to puree the apple mixture until smooth, OR puree the apples in batches using a food processor or high-powered blender. (If you do this, return the apples to the Instant Pot.)
3. Simmer the Puree: Turn Instant Pot to Saute and press the MINUS button to set it to LESS. Bring the apple puree to a simmer and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until thickened into a spreadable consistency and dark golden brown.
4. Cool, Serve, and Store!

What Is Apple Butter Used For?

• Breakfast time, Teatime, or Anytime: Like any fruit spread, apple butter is wonderful on toast, biscuits, scones, English Muffins, and more. I like spreading it on pancakes!
• Charcuterie: With its complex flavors and sweet, fruity mellowness, apple butter makes a wonderful addition to a cheese board or charcuterie spread. It pairs very well with crackers, goat cheese, cured meats, and more.
• Substitutions: You can try using apple butter where you might normally use apple sauce– in baked goods, barbeque sauces, marinades, and more.

Choosing the Best Apples

Typically, the apples used for recipes (as opposed to snacking) are tart and firm, but many cooks prefer a sweeter, more mellow apple for making apple butter. This is because the sugars in the apple are more apparent and lend themselves to caramelization. Yum! Try your favorite sweet apple, such as the Delicious varieties, Gala and Fuji apples, Pink Lady apples, and more.

How to Store Fresh Apple Butter

• Leftovers can be refrigerated in airtight containers for up to 3 weeks.
• You can also fill airtight containers or freezer bags with apple butter and keep it, well-sealed, in the freezer for up to 6 months.
• If you would like to can apple butter, it works really well! Follow Ball’s Canning Guides for step-by-step directions.

ENJOY!

Print Recipe

5 from 7 votes

INSTANT POT APPLE BUTTER

An easy Instant Pot version of classic Apple Butter: a delicious, warming apple spread, caramelized and spiced with cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time38 minutes mins

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy apple butter recipe, homemade apple butter, how to make apple butter

Servings: 48 oz

Calories: 39kcal

Author: Katerina | Easy Weeknight Recipes

Ingredients

• 5 pounds apples, cored, and cut into wedges (peel is optional)
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup apple cider, (NOT apple cider vinegar, but you can use pure apple juice if you don't have apple cider)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground allspice
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

• Place apples into the Instant Pot and stir in the lemon juice.
• To the apples, add sugars, apple cider, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and vanilla; stir around until well combined.
• Secure the lid. Set the valve to sealing.
• Set to Pressure Cook on HIGH for 8 minutes.
• When cooking time is up, allow Natural Pressure Release for 15 minutes.
• Remove the lid.
• Using an immersion blender, blend the apple mixture until smooth. You can also use a high-powered blender or a food processor to blend the apples, but do it in batches and return blended apples back to the IP.
• Turn Instant Pot to Saute and press the MINUS button to set it to LESS.
• Bring mixture to a simmer; continue to cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until thickened to desired consistency.
• Turn OFF the IP, but let the apple butter completely cool inside the IP.
• Once cooled, spoon the apple butter into an airtight container and keep refrigerated for 3 weeks.
• You can also freeze it for up to 6 months.
• If you want to CAN the Apple Butter, use Ball’s Canning Guides for step-by-step directions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ounce | Calories: 39kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 55mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 26IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg